PC Jan 2013

[Irish stargazer (John)]

See you all there. I have a new camera I want to try out

[MortonH]

Had a great time last night. Hope it's clear for you guys tonight.

[Arthur Alchin (Arthur Alchin)]

Weather permitting any one up for the 12th ?????

Asked Sharon about visiting next Saturday (during the day) but they are away for the week. I think they would like to meet up with a few of us personally to show us around first

[MortonH]

12th is good for me.

[Irish stargazer (John)]

A few shots from last night. Great turnout and the weather played ball (apart from the heavy dew)


Here are a few shots taken last night at the Pony Club using the new Canon 7D and a Sigma 50mm F1.4 lens. All the shot are unguided 10 second frames with the camera on a tripod, stacked in DSS and processed in photoshop elements (crudely)
I wanted to see how deep the camera could go so this shot of Orion is a bit over stretched (and upside down :laugh: ).Stack of 22 frames at ISO 1600 with dark subtraction used. It does pick out the flame, horsehead and gives a hint of Bernards loop. Not bad for 10 seconds in a semi dark site with no filters used and a stock camera.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8...54ef8b34_k.jpg

This shot is the LMC. Stack of 18 frames with the same settings. I like this shot. It brings out a hint of a spiral arm. Couldnt stretch it too much due to the Sydney skyglow
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8...1007f89a_k.jpg

Eta Carina region. 14 frames, again restricted by Sydney skyglow.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8497/8...a583a55d_k.jpg
This is just a rough processing of the images.

[MortonH]

The LMC is cracking!

How come the stars are a bit trailed in the Orion shot? Is the alignment off in the stacking?

[Irish stargazer (John)]

Originally Posted by MortonH

The LMC is cracking!

How come the stars are a bit trailed in the Orion shot? Is the alignment off in the stacking?

22 frames were stacked without any guiding so each image moves a bit from the last. Its the price you pay for stacking some many frames so near the celestial equator. The LMC is easier as it doesnt move so much. Vixen Polarie here we come

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Sorry I missed another visit, I had My Son and Daughter-in-law visiting.
we also had to mind the grand kids while they went on a date.
We were very tired too after running around after kids again at the beach etc.

Looks like it was a great night.

And John, All your images are good, but I think that LMC shot as a beauty. Well done.

geoffro.

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

yes - nice turnout last nite
good to get out under the stars as a group again

Geoff

[gb_astro]

Yes good to see the numbers up a bit.
No wind, no clouds but the seeing pretty soft.
Gear award goes to Jason with his twin 150 f8 refractors set up as a binoscope.
Observational highlights; bright ISS zenith pass and, right at the end of the night, Io shadow transit over the GRS (thanks Allan).

Greg.

[MortonH]

Originally Posted by Irish stargazer

22 frames were stacked without any guiding so each image moves a bit from the last. Its the price you pay for stacking some many frames so near the celestial equator. The LMC is easier as it doesnt move so much. Vixen Polarie here we come

Yeah, the Polarie will make things a lot easier!

[jakob]

John, I like your images.
I think you did very well for un-guided shots.

I thought i show you my effort on the Coal sack.
At least it is detectable from the PC, I got no chance from Kellyville.

What realy impresses me is the number of stars that pop out in my image!
3 x 1min. at 400 ISO. Nikon 35mm 1.8 lens, D7000 Body.
Stacked with DSS, Curves and re-sizing in CS4.

[Irish stargazer (John)]

That's a nice picture with lots of detail Jakob. A darker site really helps though. Here is my attempt from a few months back using the same lens and settings on a 450D from the PC, again unguided 10 second shots

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8436/7...e016562e_k.jpg

[Shano592 (Shane)]

They are really good, Jakob and John.

It must have been a late shot.

Good to see that you did manage to get some imaging done.

The skyglow from the PC seemed brighter than I remember it. More to the southwest than normal. Suburbia is coming!

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

who opened up sat nite ?

i have a spare PC key

geoff

[Shano592 (Shane)]

I opened last Saturday.

[Arthur Alchin (Arthur Alchin)]

Is this Saturday a goer if the weather is right? The scope (and me of course) are looking for a bit of dark sky. Got a view of the Scuptor Galaxy from my driveway last night, can only be better up the PC. I aim at getting there about 1830 if the night is a goer but don't have a key :-(

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

then i have "your" key Shane

till next time we meet

geoff

[gb_astro]

Originally Posted by Arthur Alchin

Is this Saturday a goer if the weather is right? The scope (and me of course) are looking for a bit of dark sky. Got a view of the Scuptor Galaxy from my driveway last night, can only be better up the PC. I aim at getting there about 1830 if the night is a goer but don't have a key :-(

I should be there. 1830 sounds ok.
I was thinking of going to Wiruna but this heat.....
Greg.

[Arthur Alchin (Arthur Alchin)]

I think the coast gets a little moderated by a slight sea breeze. Look forward to seeing you there Greg if you can make it

I might have to being some " non-cookable" savories to share around